Reviews (25)

A must read for any student of Lee.
Nolan's book isn't the Lee bashing book that I thought it would be thank goodness. My history instructor at college let me read this book when I told her I was a huge fan of General Lee's. Nolan states that he thinks Lee was a great man; moral, intelligent, and loved by his men. This is all true and any Lee basher will have to face up to these facts. Nolan simply tries to offer another side of Lee than many of the Lee "traditionalists" have not included, and that is the human side of Lee. Lee made errors like any man, and he was also the victim of the Southern way of thinking when Lee believed in a "gradual emancipation". Another important fact that was addressed by Nolan, which is the usual argument by Lee critics is his offensive strategy. Nolan points out that if Lee believed that the only way of truly winning a battle and ending the war was to fight "those people" on their own ground and drive them from it, which Lee did believe in, then he is not at fault. I don't believe this book is an attack on the ability or character of Lee, it is simply a well-rounded version of the "Lee tradition". My opinion of Lee has not changed since reading the book, I only feel he was human like the rest of us.

A "Prosecution" of Robert E Lee, with mixed results...
As a Southerner whose ancestors fought for both the Confederacy AND the Union in the Civil War, I tend to disagree with both sides in the debate over "Lee Considered". I agree with those who argue that a more balanced and realistic view of Robert E Lee is long overdue, and that Nolan's book does offer some telling blows at the Lee mythology. But, I also don't believe that Nolan has made the "convincing" case against Lee that some of the posters on this board would have you to believe. Nolan, who is a lawyer and not an historian (a fact which should be borne in mind as you read this book), attempts to put the romantic, mythological Lee "on trial" and expose him for the flawed and decidedly unheroic person that Nolan believes him to be. Like a good lawyer, Nolan denies trying to "convict" Lee in the beginning of the book, and even states that he admires him in some ways, but the rest of the book reveals Nolan to be committed to "convicting" his target of several specific charges. Namely: 1)That Lee was privately far more supportive of slavery than the Lee myth would have it; 2)That Lee was far more supportive of secession and "breaking up the Union" than his myth reveals; 3)That Lee made numerous mistakes as a General that helped cause the South's defeat - mistakes such as pursuing an aggressive, "go get'em" strategy that led to the highest casualty rates of any Civil War General and bled his smaller army dry; and 4)That Lee prolonged the Civil War longer than was necessary by continuing to fight after Gettysburg, which Nolan argues "convinced" Lee that the South was doomed to defeat, and therefore he should have urged the Confederacy to surrender, or at least refused to fight or encourage his men to make useless sacrifices for a cause he privately knew was doomed. Nolan presents a good deal of "evidence" (much of it in Lee's own words), but like a good prosecutor he leaves out "evidence" which contradicts his theories, and he completely ignores the fact that Lee was a nineteenth-century man, not a late twentieth-century one. An historian would have put many of Lee's views into further context (without necessarily excusing them). Dr. James McPherson, the famed Civil War historian and author of "Battle Cry of Freedom", can hardly be called a "neo-Confederate" historian (if anything he's pro-Union), but even he has some problems with Nolan's book. A few years ago he wrote a criticism of "Lee Considered" in which he "judged" Nolan's "trial" of Lee, and while he found Lee to be "guilty" of being more pro-slavery than the Lee myth allows, he also found Lee to be "innocent" of prolonging the War (McPherson points out that the South still had a good chance of winning the war right up to Lincoln's reelection in November 1864), and that Nolan failed to "prove" many of his other charges, although McPherson argues that Nolan does raise some worthwhile questions about the accuracy of the traditional Lee myth. I fully agree with McPherson's views - this book is worth reading because it does offer a view of Lee that is in some ways more "realistic" than the Lee myth. However, Nolan fails to destroy Lee's reputation as a great general and one of the true "legends" of American military history. Overall, this book is quite a mixed bag, but it's still a thought-provoking, intellectually stimulating piece of work, even if Nolan is sometimes off-target.

A Hard Look at Lee from a More Global Perspective
Nolan, famous for his book on the Iron Brtigade, virtually takes a hard objective view of the Generalship of Robert E. Lee. With respect to Lee's aggessive attack plans, Nolan argure that limited manpower required more defensive measures. Chancellorsville is probably where Nolan's argument is most controversial and interesting. Lee wins a great victory but he does suffer substantial losses particularly the day after Jackson's crushing blow after the Union Army digs in. Lee always desired to crush the Union Army but it never seemed possible although second Manasas was close to it. Some engaging arguments about Gettysburg in contrast to Fredericksburg. An interesting book to read after the "Marble Man" which is a hard objective view of Lee and to contrast Nolan's view, read Gallagher's book "The Confederate War" where Gallagher argues that the south was desperate for victories in order to survive and Lee was the only man that could do so consistently. Gallagher, believes in spite of his losses, Lee inspired his country men which was necessary for the south to sustain itself. I had my book autographed when Nolan spoke at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. He held up well under a barage of questions that Lee may have admired as a polite but verbal counter attck.

A mixed bag but some good analysis
Reading some of the other reviews of this book is proof enough that the Lost Cause orthodoxy is alive and well. It would be simple enough to ascribe this book to vile Yankee enmity for daring to challenge accepted assumptions about RE Lee.

That having been said, I am not totally satisfied with Nolan's approach. He rightfully criticizes various historians for drawing conclusions about Lee based on single statements or letters written by Lee (often after the fact). However, Nolan is often guilty of the same misdeed. While I suspect that the documentary record would tend support Nolan's thesis than undermine it, nonetheless the documentation Nolan provides is quite limited. Carefully selecting the evidence that supports your argument might work in a court of law, but not in a work of history.

I also think that Nolan at times indulges in unnecessary hair-splitting, such as in the 5-page Chapter 5, where he discusses Lee's feelings towards his adversaries. The chapter seemed to me to be totally superfluous and contributed nothing to the book overall.

Nolan, in an effort to discredit the dogma of the Lost Cause, at times goes overboard in his assumptions. When criticizing Lee for undermining the Confederacy's war effort by going too much on the offensive, Nolan states that the South actually had a realistic chance of winning the war. His argument is that if Lee had preserved his manpower more prudently, the South could have withstood the North's attempts at conquest. This is a valid argument, because it is obvious that Lee did a good job of wrecking his army from 1861-1863.

However, Nolan's larger argument rests on the supposition that the South was effectively managing its war effort elsewhere. Ironically, like many of the devotees of the Lost Cause, Nolan ignores the impact of the war in the Western Theatre while focusing on the Eastern Theatre. The reality was that in the Western Theatre, especially in the first two years of the war when North & South were more or less equally matched in the field, the South was steadily losing ground virtually from the beginning. This is due as much to the incompetent generalship of the Confederacy as anything else. Even if Lee had carefully husbanded his manpower, he could not have undone the damage caused by generals such as Polk & Bragg in the Western Theatre.

The best part of Nolan's book is the final chapter, where he discusses the overall effort by the South (with very willing collusion from the North) to turn the Civil War & the Antebellum period into some sort of idyllic fairy tale, due to the racist attitudes that both regions shared. He gives a convincing argument about century-long effort to change the very nature of the war, of which the Lee mythology is only one element.

While at times this book veers dangerously close to being a commonplace chop-job, overall it makes a decent contribution to the literature. If Nolan had provided more comprehensive documentation, its impact would be all the better. As it is, one cannot consider it the last word, but it has ushered in an honest debate on the subject.

Lee Considered: General Robert E. Lee and Civil War History
Lee Considered: General Robert E. Lee and Civil War History by Alan T. Nolan is a book that brings us the human man and not he icon of the Civil War.

Lee is a paradox of sorts, while owning slaves he was opposed to the institution of slavery. Lee left the United States Army so as not to take his sword and use it against his native Virginia. A most revered but misunderstood man, Lee was a brilliant military leader who was tactically effective in bringing the exploits of the Confederacy to those of Northern aggression.

This book brings out a more human man, complete with all of the frailties and fallacies. A man or moral character, but a man whos job is that of a soldier. This book gives us a more honest view of Lee... a Lee not on his terms, but a Lee in the eye of history. No assumptions, just a rigorous reexamination through correspondence and historical sources.

Everyone knows the larger than life Lee, but knowing Lee is to know that he is a man... a man who happens to be the Commanding General of the Confederate Forces, a native Virginian, and a Southern aristocrat who opposed slavery. ... Read more

Book Description

John Lennon Unseen Archives

John Lennon was the man who founded The Beatles, and whose energy and commitment were greatly influential in taking them to the height of fame. He became more than a musician and went on to influence an entire generation. John Lennon: Unseen Archives with evocative photographs from The Daily Mail captures the impact he made upon the world; the memories of which still linger with us today. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Beautiful photographs, a must have for Lennon fans
So many Beatles-related books trot out the same photos, again and again. You all know the ones I'm talking about. But this book is decidedly and refreshingly different. I have many Lennon biographies in my library and this book contains many previously unpublished photos of John, especially ones from his childhood and in the period 1975-1980. The paper quality in the book is exceptional and is thick, glossy material which results in a stunning display of black and white vibrancy. The text is incidental but adds flavor and gives you the year each photo was taken.

The photos of the Beatles are a little weaker, and contain many previously known shots. But the individual pictures of John are outstanding. Consider the beautiful profile view on the cover of the book, taken in 1967. This is just a sampling of what this treasure trove has to offer. There are many other such nuggets within the covers. Any serious fan of John Lennon will adore this book and get many hours of pleasure perusing these photos of a great cultural and musical icon. John himself would scoff at such a description, but it's oh so true.

Alot Of Rare Photos Of John Lennon And The Beatles!
I just recieved this book from my girlfriend for Valentine's Day and all I can say is it's got tons and tons of pictures, many of which I've never seen before. I've got several other Beatles books but this one is the best and for an unbelievable low price how can you possibly go wrong? If you are a Beatles fan like me, you've got to have this book. It's 384 pages of photos and some interesting information towards the end of the book. Highly Recommended!

great price!!
I just recieved this book a few days ago. Its filled with hundreds of black & white photos and descriptions. I highly recommend this book to anyone... you cant go wrong with the price...Stock it up for gifts!

John Lennon
Hey I just got this book for my birthday and it's really good, I am a huge Beatles fan and a pretty good sized lennon fan and this has TONS of good pictures in it, it's a great book and a lot of the pics are with the Beatles lol a lot without the Beatles too, It's a great book! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A lot better than I thought it would be!
My mom was always encouraging me to read biograhies. One day, my mom sat me on a chair and forced me to read at least one chapter. I didn't think I would like it, but I loved it! Tons of info on Abe Lincoln! Some conversations were added to make it more interesting, but most of it was true. I am reading tons of bios from the same series (the Childhood of Famous Americans series). I would encouage everyone to read this book and other books of the series!

Interesting.
This has been one of the more interesting biographys I read. This book focoses in more on his childhood than more on his life in polotics. ... Read more

Book Description

Recollections and Letters shows all the varying facets of Lee's character. His letters reveal his personal warmth, bravery and concern for the South during and after the war. No other collection of source materials gives such a whole and rewarding picture of one of the South's greatest sons and heroes. ... Read more

Book Description

In this biography, Walter Hixson examines the life of Charles Lindbergh.The book explores the experiences of Charles Lindbergh and his role as an important cultural figure in America.For anyone interested in American history or the life of Charles Lindbergh. ... Read more

Book Description

Winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Book Award and the Christopher Award, this brilliant examination of the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. portrays a very real man and his dream that shaped America's history. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Masterful balanced biography
Stephen Oates writes a masterful biography of one of the pivotal figures of the twentieth century. Today we view Martin Luther King Jr. as a saint, and a model of what the human spirit can achieve. In his day, he was viewed by many in the South with fear, hatred and loathing.

It is easy to view this situation in hindsight, and assume that everyone was just ignorant. Oates writes of the complex history, the battles within and outside "the movement" and how divided the nation was at the time. Oates also does not shirk away from many of Martin Luther King's personal weaknesses. In this sense, he humanizes the great leader, instead of canonizes him.

In the end, I am left with three conclusions:
1 - Martin Luther King Jr. indeed found a way to overcome hatred with love, and in doing so helped America avoid a race war.
2 - The message of civil rights was both religeous and personal. Despite today's views of the right being the party of religeon, in his day the southern liberal movement was galvanized in the church.
3 - Despite this, he was a flawed individual. His human weakness does not diminish his accomplishment.

The book is not light reading. Read it. Let it soak in. And comprehend.

The Life of Martin Luther King Jr.
This book was about a big part of our United States History. It was about Civil Rights. Martin Luther King Jr. was a big Civil Rights activist in the 1960's. I learned quite a bit about Martin Luther Kings's life that I did not know before I had read this book.
Martin Luther King was one of the most important people of our country's history. He fought for African-Americans Civil Rights. He was a very determined man, who was alwyas put into jail numerous times for his "peaceful protests". He had given several speeches as well. The author of this book is Stephen B. Oates. He is a good writer, who has written 16 books.He has also won many literary prizes such as the Christopher Award. This book is very well written. He clearly tells the story as if he had experienced it. His strenghts include: Getting actual quotes from the people that were important in this time, having pictures of Mr. King and others, and having footnotes that explained the story more in depth. I can not think of many weaknesses that he has. However, the book was long but I did not expect it to be short due to the importance of the topic. I would reccomend this book to many people. The reason why is because it tells you in depth stories about Martin Luther King Jr. and his life, but it does have profanity and innappropriate content for young children. All in all, this was a very good biography and taught me many things.

Important book about a hero
This is the best biography I've read, not only about King but overall. Oates does a fine job balancing between illuminating details that help make King accessible to the reader without getting bogged down in this detail. Likewise, this balance provides a fine introduction to the Civil rights movement. (I don't consider a weakness of Let the Trumpets Sound that Oates doesn't dwell on certain of Kings weaknesses, as he instead focuses on King's message and actions; again, I think Oates concentrates on the myriad aspects of King's life, and the movement, that truly were important.)

Anybody trying to learn more about the Civil rights Movement should read this (along with such books the Autobiograpohy of Malcolm X and any of a number of books about Gandhi).

Great man, good book
If all you know of MLK is his I Have A Dream speech, you should definitely read this book. The book does a good job detailing his life and the struggle he lead for civil rights in this country. My main problem is that book seems to be too reverent of MLK. His extra-marital affairs are not examined at all in the light of how such a moral leader could have betrayed his wife. Also, the book examines his stand against the Viet Nam war, but never really asks the question of how much more the civil rights struggle might have progressed if this stand had not been made. But MLK was a great man and all Americans should know his story. Even though I knew had the book had to end, I still felt choked up when I read through the section of his murder.

enlightening, portrays MLK, Jr. as I never knew him
I didn't know much about Martin Luther King, Jr. before I found this book in a second hand store and picked it up just because it looked interesting. I am glad I did. I finished this book respecting MLK and his message more than I ever thought possible. It amazes me that MLK so accurately pegged the United States attitudes about racism, social injustice and the Vietnam War in the heat of the moment--a true visionary. It is a shame that whenever somebody in this world tries to change things for the better somebody feels the need to kill them. Stephen Oates' portrayal is honest and forthright. An admirable performance. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement is well documented in prose, but for sheer emotional power, nothing can compare to the pictures from this era. It's a challenge for a writer's words to match the force of Bob Adelman's photographs in this book, but novelist and essayist Charles Johnson rises to the task in his treatment of King's life and death, as well as the heroic struggle of African Americans in the United States. Johnson, the author of Middle Passage (which won the 1990 National Book Award), offers an exceptional counterpoint to the stirring images with the depth and weight of his essays and captions. "How soon we forget that King was not only a civil rights activist," Johnson writes, "but also this country's preeminent moral philosopher, a spiritual aspirant, a father and a husband, and that these diverse roles--these multiple dimensions of his too brief life--were the foundations for his singular 'dream' that inspired millions worldwide."

Adelman intimately captures King's background, from his comfortable middle-class upbringing in Atlanta to the dashing figure he cuts with his wife, Coretta, to his steady ascendance as a forceful preacher thrust into prominence during the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955-56. We cringe at the sight of King being photographed as a criminal and at the horrific treatment many blacks endured by racist Southern police. The triumph of King's "I Have a Dream" speech, which he gave at the 1963 March on Washington, is beautifully detailed, along with his acceptance of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize. We also see a weary King, weighed down by assassination attempts, harassment, inner-city riots, and the Vietnam War. Toward the end, King displays an eerie sense of calm in the photos taken just days before his death--particularly in an April 3 photo taken at the Mason Hall in Memphis the night before his murder, where he declared that he'd "been to the mountaintop." King's legacy is lovingly chronicled in this impressive book. --Eugene Holley Jr. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Absolutely Superb!!!
The words of 1998 MacArthur Fellow Charles Johnson's ccoupled with the poignant photographs of Bob Adelman climax in this excellent literary work that chronicles the life and legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The wonderful photographs and literary prose compliment each other beautifully throughout this masterpiece, detailing the life and democratic stuggles of King. Beginning from the early childhood of Mr. King to his untimely death,
Adelman's photographs depict a very young King with his family. It provides insight into his his upbringing and illustrates the foundation that culminates into the life of the great civil rights leader. It continues to depict his educational pursuits and ultimate marriage to the lovely Coretta Scott.

The books carries the reader through the voyage as a young King rises to prominence as a preacher, his continued quest for racial equality, and mainly
his persistent call for agapic love in conjunction with nonviolence. Also, shared in this tome is intimate photographs of King's time spent with his loving family and information about King's life that may not be well-known.

Although nearly 300-pages, this book capitvates the reader from cover to cover. All in all, Johnson and Adelman are to be commended for their efforts! This liteary piece is nothing short of superb!

Reviewed by Nedine Hunter
...

A Photo Spectacular
I have many photography books in my personal collection, and I have several on the civil rights movement, but this book is by far the best I have seen.The book combines the work of several photographers - including Alfred Eisenstadt, Charles Moore, Henri Cartier Bresson, plus some lesser knowns - who have been individually recognized for their own work. The photographs are a true documentary of Martin Luther King's life and death with many photos I have never seen before. ... Read more

Book Description

Tying in with the publication of Loretta Lynn's long-awaited autobiographical sequel, Still Woman Enough, later this year.

"Few subjects are too difficult to deal with here, yet there is nothing sensationalistic...Those reading this can be assured they have met the real Loretta Lynn."-Billboard

"Engaging reading even for many to whom country music is an alien world."-New York Times Book Review

"This affecting and fascinating story will delight her fans and may even win her some converts."-Publishers Weekly ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Very Impressed
A grandmother at 28?Wow!I learned a lot of interesting things about 1) the country music star, and 2) about coming up hard and making it work out.

This book is Loretta Lynn's tale of her childhood in Butcher Holler with her poor but pround parents.Her parents allow her to be married off to a man she barely knows when she is 13.Amazingly, she remains married to this man for the rest of his life.

Anyway, the husband encourages Loretta to sing publicly because he thinks she has a great voice.And I don't need to tell you how the career goes, because that's pretty popular knowledge.

All in all, this was a great book.Very well developed and informative, whether you're a country music fan or not.

What can I say?
I have been completely in love with Loretta Lynn ever since I saw "Coal Miner's Daughter." I didn't even know who she was til I watched the movie at age 14, then I read the book and became hooked on her music. She is an amazing woman. Her life has been hard, and she doesn't take any of her success for granted. She is who she is. What you see is what you get with her. I don't know if anyone who reads her book could relate to half of what she has experienced, but it makes for interesting reading. I was lucky enough to see her live in concert a month ago, and when she walked out on that stage, I was brought literally to tears. I just couldn't believe this woman I admire so highly was actually standing in front of me. I'll never forget that night. And I will never stop loving Loretta Lynn. Read BOTH of her autobiographies. Both are excellent.

I was a Coal Miner's daughter in Kentucky
This is one of the greatest books that has ever been written.My father was a coal miner until he got hurt.I sing my self and loretta is just so good.Being from the same state she is i guess the reason she has such a influenece on my life.If you read this book you will love it.

Coal Miner's Daughter
Very interesting. This woman has led a very difficult life, but she never seems to lose her spirit.

Inspiring, Touching and unforgetable
This is a very touching book, you can't put down once you begin to read it. The life-long story of Lorreta Lynn is powerful and
breath-taking. The words in this book are not fancy, but candid, convincible and colorful, it is the true life of Lorreta Lynn that wins the heart of millions people.

How poor is being poor? What is the struggle to escape from being
poor? How Lorreta Lynn became a country music diva from a coal miner's daughter? From this book, we share the life of Lorreta Lynn with our own, we see the souls and dreams as well as day to day lives of many ordinary people, especially the humanbeing under poverty.

Lorreta Lynn was born into a very poor coal miner's family in a remote Kentucky hillside. Her father had little money to feed Lorreta and her family, one Christmas, her Daddy had only thirty-six cents (!) for Lorreta and her three brothers. The work was very hard for her Daddy, he had to crawl on his hands and knees to work inside the ream of coal, of only three feet high. Until seven years old, Lorreta always wore flour sack her mummy sewed as dress. However, with her unyielding spirit and unceasingly struggling, Lorreta went on and up, became the queen of country music and a millionaire.

I didn't know the name of Lorreta Lynn until I watched the movie"coal miner's daughter", this movie led me to this book. The movie is fantastic, but this book let you know more and think more.

Either you like county music or not, either you are poor or rich,
this book is absolutely good, inspiring, touching and unforgetable. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Pretty Good
As a the great-great-great-great grandson of Robert W. Lee and his slave/mistress Ophelia, I thought this book provided a profound insight into the life of the man who led the Army of Northen Virginia to so many improbable victories.

Not quite a biography, but...
I am a student of the civil war, and I've made most of my studies from Actual Memoirs of the event. I figured that I'd rather take the word of the people who were actually there than 3rd person commentary. I've read Grant, Sheridan, J.B. Gordon, E.P. Alexander, and of course, Sam Watkins, Frank Wilkeson, and Berry Benson, to name some of the best. Regrettably, Robert Lee died before he could record his own personal reminiscences. Through my desire to read about him in the same way I'd read about other participants of the war, I found this book-and I figured that Fitzhugh Lee's biography would be as near as I could get to the famed General, for Fitzhugh Lee was not only a Relative of the famed General's, but a General himself in the War of the Rebellion. Half way through the book, I felt thoroughly betrayed. After the first 70 pages, the book becomes the most average of monologues about the movements of troops during the civil war. The only difference between this book and the memoirs of certain other officers engaged in the same battles is the Fitzhugh Starts his recitations with, "General Lee's Order were that...", and has less maps, that usually ease the strain of describing obscure movements.
I will say, though, that the author does spend at least a quarter of the book On the life of R.E. Lee outside of the civil war- the first 70 pages focusing on his Lineage, his training at West point, and his engagements in Mexico, and the Last 20 on his Presidency at Washington-Lee College. Also, sparsely placed throughout the book, Fitzhugh makes use of General Lee's personal correspondance with his wife and family. I would have appreciated seeing more of that, but people 150 years late to the party can't be choosers. Of the Author's style, it is mostly factual, highly romantic(though nothing like Gordon's memoir), and at times he makes allusions and references that let you know he's highly intelligent. This Book doesn't make any in-depth study of General Lee, and mostly considers his character to be untouchable....

I, too...
...read and enjoyed this book. Being the recently acknowledged illegitimate child of General Lee, I agree that it is a worthy book.

Very Informative
I found this book to be wonderful. I used it in a research report and it was very helpful. It stood out among the other hundreds of Lee biographies

Marse Robert VII
This was an EXCELLENT book. BTW, At a recent channeling, I was recognized as the 12th incarnation of R.E. Lee. ... Read more

Book Description

Matching folio to the soundtrack from the highly publicized documentary on this legendary singer/ songwriter. 21 songs, including: A Day In The Life * The Ballad Of John and Yoko * Give Peace A Chance * Jealous Guy * Woman * (Just Like) Starting Over * Imagine. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

in his life
This book covers John's entire life with rare quotes from him, family and friends.plus numerous famous and rare color/b&w pictures from numerous photographers.Many of the pictures are in large format and The book was made as a compliment to the 1988 warner brothers movie "imagine: john lennon". This book is a MUST HAVE FOR BEATLE FANS. ... Read more

Book Description

Back in print in this handy pocket paperback format, ideal for Martin Luther King's Birthday (January 15) and Black History Month. (February). Over 200,000 copies sold--this perennial classic belongs in every home, school and library. This timeless volume includes highlights from the legendary civil rights leader's speeches, sermons and writings, selected by his wife, who contributes an impressive introduction on Dr. King's life and legacy. The 120 quotations focus on: The Community of Man, Racism, Civil Rights, Justice and Freedom, Faith and Religion, Nonviolence, and Peace. Also included is a detailed chronology of Dr. King's life and involvement in the civil rights movement in our time. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent sampling of King's writings and ideas.
After having read quite abit by and About King over the years, I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they were new to King's philosophies and ideas or a veteran of the movement he helped to create within this country and the world. ... Read more

Book Description

This warmly told biography of our sixteenth president is enriched by many authentic but seldom told anecdotes and complemented by bold color illustrations that capture the spirit of Lincoln and his era. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great book--beautiful, well-written, with rare photos.
There have been a lot of books written on that most fascinating American icon, Charles Lindbergh. This is one of the best. It's an even-handed, insightful look at the man who was at one time the best-known individual in the world. It's a great-looking book, especially all the photos--and there are some great ones, including some rare ones and also a color section that's full of great images. It's just a wonderful book, and the text is above average--I've read a lot of Lindbergh books, but this is one of the best overviews of Lindbergh's life that I've seen. ... Read more

Book Description

A different time...a different place...What if you were there?
If you lived at the time of Martin Luther King, you would have seen important changes brought about by the civil rights movement.

When did the civil rights movement begin?
Were children involved in civil rights protests?
What was the March on Washington?
This book tells you what it was like during the exciting era when Martin Luther King led the fight against segregation. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

''Come Learn About A Famous Man And You Will Be Number 1''
If you lived at the time of Martin Luther King J r.
By Ellen Levine

The Book is about when it was the 1950's to 1960's. A man named Martin Luther King Jr. was the leader for the blacks. White people were very mean to African-Americans. They had to use different schools, phone booths, neighborhoods, bathrooms, restaurants, hotels, and drinking fountains.

I like this book because I wonder about if I were there, would I have tried to help the black people? I know I would have.

I also think the illustrator did a great job on coloring the pages. I think the author wrote this book because it was about segregated laws. She wanted kids to know a famous leader or what it was like if the kids were there with him.

Excellent Introduction to Civil Rights for Elementary ages!
Whenever teachers in our predominantly white elementary school ask me to recommend a title pertaining to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., or to African American history, this is one of the first books I suggest for grades 4, 5 and 6.The question and answer format lends itself to reading aloud and then discussing topics that come up, like segregation, white supremacy, the Montgomery bus boycott, etc. I recently read part of this book to a fourth grade class who just had "segregation" as a vocabulary word. The students were quite attentive and asked some excellent questions.The title is a bit misleading in that some might view it as a biography of Dr. King. While many sections do draw upon personal events in Dr. King's life, such as when he was a youngster riding in the car with his father and he heard a police officer call his dad "boy." Or again, when he was young and he was told he could no longer play with his white friends. But as the title says, it's really about if you lived at the "time" of Dr. King. Therefore, it's an excellent introduction to many aspects of the Civil Rights movement.While the watercolor illustrations are an improvement over the black and white drawings in earlier editions of this "If You Lived At the Time Of" series, in this case I think the text could be more fully enhanced with actual photographs, especially since many of these illustrations are copied from well-known photographs.All in all, this is an excellent introduction to the Civil Rights Movement for upper-elementary students (and apparently for middle-school students according to another review here). This is one title that, in my opinion, should be in every elementary school in the nation. Recommended.

An easy-to-understand summary of the civil rights movement
I read this book to my middle school students every year. Levine explains the need for a civil rights movement in terms that kids can understand. This book makes students want to learn more about this important event in American history. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Hardly a historical travesty
Let's make reference to the review printed below, which slams this book and claims it is baseless nonsense. Actually this book is readable, generally accurate and can introduce Grant and Lee to the broad range of people who know nothing about either of them. Is this historical biography of the highest realm? Hardly, but it lays no claim to that mantle. Instead, it's an entertaining book which does not slam Julia Grant, USG's wife, in the slightest. In fact, the book extols her support of her husband and focuses a great deal of attention on Grant's famously happy marriage. The sections on Lee are inferior to the chapters on Grant, but adequate. The format is rather crippling, as the authors seesaw between the two titans. One wonders why they didn't concentrate their forces on one instead of two?

Finally, the website mentioned by the previous reviewer is mine. As for the "completely fictional" notion that Julia suspected USG of being enamored of other women while on the West Coast, the reviewer needs to consult some other works on Grant before making this absurd claim. Read Grant's letters from the period before attacking the Andersons for presenting facts. Did Grant cheat while separated from his wife? Never. Did she worry about it? You betcha, and that's what this book presents. Case closed.

A Historical Travesty
There is no other way of putting it: I found this book perfectly appalling. I had thought that Geoffrey Perret's biography of Grant was the last word in historical sloppiness, but the Andersons have managed to wrest that dubious prize from his fingers. I am not a Lee expert, so I cannot say how accurate that section of this book is, but their chapters dealing with Grant are a joke. (And why is it that both the Andersons and Perret felt the need to include snide attacks on Grant's wife, Julia? Although the woman was undoubtedly no beauty, she was, by all accounts, a perfectly delightful person who was a warm, loving, and immensely supportive spouse to her oft-troubled husband. When did it become popular among third-rate historians to slander her?)

This book is so ludicrously inaccurate and fanciful that I would be amused if it were not for the fact that many unwitting readers are obviously led to unquestioningly accept this mishmash. Even a certain web site devoted to Grant has, I noticed, adopted a couple of this book's weirder claims (such as the bizarre, and completely fictional, idea that Julia accused Grant of adultery during the two years he spent on the West Coast,) and presented it as fact. It is frightening how much damage an inaccurate biography can do to the historical record.

Avoid this book at all costs!

awesome!
I'm surprised this book doesn't get more press. I found it very informative regarding Grant's and Lee's personal and professional lives, but I also learned a lot about 1800's American culture as well...and I'm hardly a novice when it comes to the Civil War-era. Seeing as one Anderson is a college professor and the other is a journalist, "The Generals" is immaculately written, an all-too-often rarity concerning history books nowadays. The fact that the book is such a smooth read puts it ahead of the other Grant/Lee bios out. The Andersons' are economical writers, communicating in a few hundred pages what other long-winded folks take volumes to say. As far as the mildly negative Library Journal review goes, I wonder if that has anything to do with the Andersons' refusal to pull punches when speaking of the frailties of both Grant and Lee. These long since dead men are idealized to such an extent today that it's hard to get a feel for the people they really were. After reading "The Generals," I feel that I know both Ulysses Grant and Robert Lee, triumphs failures and draws, as well as I'm ever going to. If you're tired of reading the same old stories about Honorable Lee or Stubborn Grant, and want to get a deeper understanding of two of the most important men in American Civil War, give "The Generals" a shot. Happy reading!

Discovering the Depth of America's Past
I'm a bit of a history buff, but would never have read this book without the prompting of a friend whom I respect. I struggled to get throught the first 50 pages, but after that I was hooked. Not only do I understand Grant and Lee better, but I feel I understand the USA better. A great story and a window on our nation. Recommended for anyone with the patience and time to peel back the layers of our past.

Excellent Book!!
This book takes you through the lives of Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. Often, it acts like a timeline, paralleling the two lives at a particular date and recreating the events that were occurring to each at that time. Many of the personal letters from both Grant and Lee are used to tell the story of their lives. These letters are surrounded with superb insights of the day and brings with it the 'feeling' of 1800's America. It is interesting to see how vastly different these two men were only to be thrust together at such a difficult time in our nations history. I strongly recommend The Generals to anyone interested in the Civil War or American History in general. ... Read more

Reviews (124)

Lindbergh: Unfulfilled promise
A. Scott Berg has created a compelling work which fully explores the complex mind of Charles A. Lindbergh. In using the writings and personal diaries of Lindbergh wife, Anne Morrow, Berg creates a foil which enables the reader to place a very public life in context. After finishing Berg's work, it is impossible to either celebrate the achievements of Lindbergh or condemn his misguided and overt actions to place responsibility for America's participation in an impending war on what he viewed as groups who did not necessarily hold American interests at heart. Quite striking is his projection for the aftermath of WWII: a significantly weakened Europe, the rise of Soviet power, and the on going role of the US as a reluctant world police force. Unfortunatly, we still have today the legacy of the results of this war. Throughout the book, Berg successfully develops Lindbergh's increasingly self obsessive personality. It becomes even more pronounced perhaps as a reaction to the overly excessive interest America placed on an inherently unprepared and reluctant popular hero. To what extent were we in part to blame for who Lindbergh became in his adult life? Berg's ability to draw the reader into this debate is skilled even if at times he provides rather execssive amounts of detail. Yet in sum, Berg has created a timeless piece which leaves a haunting sadness at its end. This is perhaps the lesson to be learned for Lindbergh's life, one full of promise yet so unfilled at its end.

What a fascinating man was Lindbergh....
I don't generally read biographies. I don't have too many of them on my shelves, and usually they don't catch my eye when I go to the local Barnes & Noble. But for some reason, A. Scott Berg's biography of Charles Lindbergh jumped out at me when I saw it a few months ago. Maybe it was the little blurb on the cover that this book had won the Pulitzer. Maybe it was the additional blurb that this was a New York Times bestseller. I don't know what it was, but I bought the book.

Turns out it was the best thing I ever did.

Of course I knew about the main points of Lindbergh's life - the first man to fly from New York to Paris, and the awful episode of "the Lindbergh baby" kidnapping and murder. I also had some knowledge of Lindbergh's later reputation - he was seen by some as a Nazi sympathizer, or worse.

Berg gives the facts behind these points, and also behind the rest of Lindbergh's life. He does so with an incredible style and in great detail - but not so much detail as to bog down the reader and prevent him or her from finding out about the fascinating man that Charles Lindbergh was. And he was fascinating - there's no other word for it.

The only other phrase that comes to mind to describe Lindbergh is "a mass of contradictions". Berg describes all of those contradictions without detracting from his life in any way. The most important contradiction(s) in this story is Lindbergh's feelings toward his wife.

I could go on and on about this book and the way Berg wrote it. The best recommendation I can give you is that I urge you to pick it up and read it yourself.

Unsure
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the positive side, it provides a very thorough and detailed account of Lindbergh's life, and is in no way boring like some biographies. However, I am not sure whether to trust this author's objectivity. Berg drew heavily from the Lindbergh family itself for his sources, and although a viable source, he relied to heavily on it. This gives the book the tendency to be slightly and in some case grossly biased towards its view of Lindbergh's actions. Although his exploits in flying were in every way brave, his actions and words regarding American involvement in the 2nd World War and his view of Nazi Germany reflect very porrly on his judgment. He also seemed somewhat indifferent to attrocities committed by the Axis nations. Read the book, but keep an open mind to the subject.

"Lindbergh" by A. Scott Berg
I have less than twenty pages left of this superb biography, and I want to share with prosepctive readers why they should buy this book: exquisite writing, meticulous research, and a subject matter that is larger than life.

Charles Lindbergh was the first recipient of 20th century celebrity cult status; an unassuming man, shy and modest he had a dream of flying solo, non-stop to Paris,and a cash parize of $25,000.00. The prize money was not the main incentive for the run. Here was a man with a dream, fueled by the desire to explore. Blessed with movie star good looks, his landing on May 22, 1927, in Paris, began a mass media hysteria. In the aftermath, he,and later his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, were desparate to lead lives of intellectual creativity. The fact that the flight that allowed them access to pursue their interests also wreaked havoc on their family life(e.g. the kidnapping and death of their firstborn son) is a sad and bitter irony.

Berg's deft and subtle hand, his superb sense of time and place, are almost novellic; but firmly grounded in careful scholarship. He reveals Lindbergh to be a man of great abilities, imagination, and perserverance; but also a man who ruled his family with such authorative zeal, that they each suffered under the strain; a man who was jusitfably proud of his wife's literary ability, but yet who never really allowed her the freedom to truly develop her literary voice; and a political neophyte, whose ambitions to keep America out of World War II,caused him to be branded a traitor, an anti-semitic,and worse.

This book will remain one of the pillars of modern biography, ranking alongside of such classics, as Robert K. Massie's 1967 dual biography of "Nicholas and Alexandra."

Sadly - quallity writing, like Berg's, are not always seen; so do yourself a favor, buy the book, put on a pot of coffee, and enter the life of America's "Lone Eagle", Charles Augustus Lindbergh. You won't regret it.

Unabashed Hero Worship
After having read most of the other reviews, I wish not to be repetitive. However, I believe this book to be a monumental waste of money. Mr. Berg seems to be one of those compelled to adore his subject to death.

Others have pointed out -- more or less correctly, I believe -- the various flaws that abound in Mr. Berg's effort. However, I feel that his incessant gushing over Mr. Lindbergh (arguably a flawed hero himself) turned me off about one-third of the way into the book. It became like that unfortunate aftertaste that one experiences when compelled to drink a second-rate bottle of wine or liquor because there is nothing else in the house. What tore it for me was the unbridled adoration Mr. Berg expressed in his writing about Ms. Lindbergh and her poetry.

Couldn't finish the book, but then again, there were probably not enough car chases in it for me.

Save your money! ... Read more

Book Description

At the end of the twentieth century, as moral standards decline (especially among public figures), our nation is in need of men and women of character.

In Character Counts, renowned thinker and cultural critic Os Guinness has gathered together short biographical and reflective chapters about four remarkable world figures who not only withstood the extreme adversities of their offices and situations but flourished and grew under pressure. How did they do it?

When did George Washington acquire the courage and tolerance to become the president of a fledgling new democracy?
What enabled William Wilberforce to forge the way for the abolition of slavery and reformation of morals in England?

How did Abraham Lincoln change from an awkward, undereducated country boy into the eloquent and determined leader of a war-torn America?

What inner strength sustained Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn during long years of imprisonment and exile in the Gulag Archipelago?

Concerned citizens and all who are eager to raise the level of character in this generation and the next will draw inspiration from these brief, readable biographies. The four insightful chapters reveal that adversity, apart from its power to overwhelm, has the potential to spotlight true moral character and produce life-changing leaders. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

As this book shows, Lincoln was a great man (get over it!).
I'm dismayed to see the severely outdated political agenda of the Allens of North Carolina overshadow their opinions and reviews of Dr. Guinness' excellent book. I really doubt that the Oxford-educated Dr. Guinness should be "ashamed" of himself for his "lack of scholarship" in any area he chooses to write. Nor do I believe he is simply parroting the "Yankee propaganda," (referred to in another Allen "review") which is an entirely laughable concept.

As for the book:
A person's actions stem from their beliefs, which form their character. We have all seen examples -- at the corporate, political, and personal levels -- of those in leadership exhibiting less-than-ideal character, which corrupted their actions. This wonderful book provides a pleasant contrast to some of our contemporary leaders by examining the lives, actions, and beliefs of some truly amazing people; especially and including Abraham Lincoln, a wartime president who took extraordinary strides and went through unbelievable hardships to preserve our country.

I'm currently reading my 4th book by Dr. Guinness, and have come to admire the author as a very strong Christian thinker and writer. As others have noted, he writes in the tradition of C.S. Lewis, and it is not hard to imagine him speaking to you personally as he guides you through his observations and reasoning.

I also recommend "Fit Bodies, Fat Minds" and "Prophetic Untimeliness," as well as "The Call."

The Dust of Lincoln
In a time when our nation (United States) no longer produces true statesmen with character such as Washington, Mason, Henry, Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, I'm saddened that Abraham Lincoln is seen by the editor as a man of character. It would seem, if one is to be a thinking evangelical, that the horrors that Lincoln permitted in the South would un-nerve the most honest of scholars. Here, Os Guines has done a serious disservice to the orthodox Christian community. Abraham Lincoln rejected the Virginia Peace (which included former president John Tyler) accord and Sen. Critendem's compromise for peace. Surely had Lincoln accepted these plans for peace, thousands of lives could have been saved. But most of all, the total war theory Lincoln allowed is the most offensive and repugnate to any thinking Christian. Women and children were implemented in Lincoln's so called war to save the Union. He jailed opponents of his position, threatened the Supreme Court justice Roger Taney with arrest for writing against his war plan. Lincoln usurped the Constitution of the United States by declaring War against seceded states in violation of Article I sec. 8 (this is solely congress's domain). A nation birthed in secession hardly has the right to chastise those who operated from the same principle i.e. the right to govern themselves and self-determination. Os, you should be ashamed of yourself for lack of scholarship in this arena. Particularly over such a sensitive subject as the American War Between the States (Civil War). A man (Lincoln) who waged an offensive war against those who defended their rights and family against an unjust invasion has no place in a book where character matters. Maybe Robert E. Lee or Joshua Chamberlain could have saved you the embarassment. And no, Lincoln's war was not over slavery. Men do not take bullets so 10 % can own slaves. Character counts, so does scholarship.

Very Fine Little Study
Did the reviewer who found this "dull" read the same book as I did??? This is a very well-crafted, nicely written, penetrating look at some important topics. I greatly enjoyed it.

Required reading?
My school, George Fox University, recommends ("hint": requires) that all students read this book upon enrollment. This book might have been a valuable contribution to the public's outlook on character in public figures, but is incredibly dry and dull in presentation. These historical figures were real people who deserve a bit...well...a life. This book was written for a great purpose, but will never achieve a lasting impact on many people due to the poor judgment of the author in his choice of style of presentation.

by a discouraged Freshman

good biographies
This is a good starting point for the people studied. I found Wilberforce the most interesting, but that was because he was the least known to me.

The force of character in shaping events is an interesting point of reference for a biography.

I can't help but notice that stubbornness was a common trait. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent beginners' biography of Lee and Grant
Not everyone is excited by history or the Civil War or even biographies of historical personalities. My daughters (age 14) were required in home school to read biographies of famous Americans. They were easily inspired by biographies of women -- entertainers, leaders, women who overcame adversity. But men were less interesting. And men known specifically for their historical contributions were downright boring. One of my twins started reading this book and loved it. The side-by-side biographical sketches provided enough information to interest her and offered a format for making snapshot comparisons. She is definitely NOT a history buff and is NOT a lover of biographies; however, for a short piece of her life she took time off from the Hardy Boys and read about (and discussed) two great men, the Civil War, and pieces of American history. (She went on to read about Civil War photography.)

Utterly vapid
Unless you're purchasing this book for a child, avoid it. The text is written at the level of a fourth grader and the conclusions drawn are about as weighty. There are numerous errors pockmarking the book, some of them not inconsequential (Grant did not graduate from West Point in 1845, but 1843).

If you want a readable and scholarly book on either Grant or Lee, don't buy a dual biography. Each man is much too vast and important to cover in such a manner. Opt for Emory Thomas' Lee biography and Campaigning with Grant by Horace Porter. These books will illuminate the titans of the civil war much better than this sorry effort.

Great
I thought that "A House Divided: The Lives of Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee" was a wonderful book. I especillay liked it because I'm a Civil War fenatic. It was not only intresting but accurate. It was a fun to read book. It tells about how Grant, a contry boy who grew up on a farm in Ohio who when he was about 17 went to West Point and graduated yet the sight of blood made him loose his apitate yet he went to war and won against Lee. Lee was a proper slave owner and grew up on his father's plantaion, he had manners and was a very good student at West Point. Yet he was one if not the 1st. person to graduate from his class at West Piont and still lost to gruffy Grant. Read this book if you want to learn more about Lee and Grant. It also has pictures of them. ... Read more